Ignition device



July 26, 1932. H. E. NORVIEL IGNITION DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 26, 1932- H. E. NoRVlEL I 1,869,164

IGNITION DEVICE Filed Aug. 5. 1927 5 sheets-sheet 2 July 26, 1,932. H. E. NoRvli-:L .IGNITION DEVICE Filed Aug. 5. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INM* imm.

Patented July 26, 1932 HARRY E. NORVIEL, OIF ANDERSON, INDIANA., ASSEGNOR T DELCO-BEMY CQEPOM- TION', 0F DAYTON, OHIO, A CGROMTXGN @F DELAWARE IGNITIGN DE'VXCE Application led August 19537. geriet No. 210,905.

rlhis invention relates to devices for preventing the theft of an automotive vehicle and more particularly to key controlled apparatus for rendering the ignition apparatus of the engine inoperative.

One object of the present invention is to provide key controlled apparatus whichwill prevent the proper functioning of the ignition timer and will prevent access to the interior of the ignition timer housing and thereby prevent tampering with the key con trolicd apparatus within the housing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, -wherein a preferred 'form of embodiment ot the present invention clearly shown.

ln the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2, taken together, comprise a plan view7 partly in section, ot an ignition timer and key controlled apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

F ig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the timer.

Fig. t is a fragmentary sectional View of a portion of the timer taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary sectional View of a portion of the timer taken on the line ea-la of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view or the ignition distributor cap.

Fig. 6 is a side view thereof looking in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 7 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is e plan view of the ignition timer housing cover plate.

Fig. 9 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 10 of Fig. 8.

Fig. l1 is a plan view, partly in section, of

an ignition timer equipped with a `modified form of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View thereot'.7 on the line 12--12 of Fig. 11.

F i 13 is a fragmentary sectional view on Fig. 17 is a view or the preferred form showing the elements of the ignition apparatus in the locking condition.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, 20 designates an i ition timer housing which supports a drive s aft 21 which is connected b an ignition governor 22 with a tubular sha t 23 rotatable around an extension 21a or the shaft 21. The shaft 23 provides a timer cam 24 which cooperates With a rubbing block 25 ot a breaker lever 26 which is pivoted upon a stud 27 supported b a breaker lever bracket 28 secured to the si e walls of the ignition timer housing 20 by screws 29 passing through the side walls and threaded into ears 30 pro vided by the bracket 26. A spring 31 and the rubbing block 25 are attached to the lever 26 by rivets 32 and one end of the spring 31 is connected with a terminal bolt 33 which is insulatingly supported by the housing 20. The lever 26 carries a contact 34 which cooperates with a stationary contact 35 carried by a bracket 36 which is adjustable around the stud 27 and may be secured in a desired position of adjustmcnt by a screw 37 which passes through a slot 38 in the bracket 36 and threadedly engages the bracket 28.

The housing 2O is provided with an annular shoulder 40 which supports timer hous- `ing cover plate 4l which in turn supports an ignition distributor head 42 having distributor posts 43 arranged in a circular row and cooperating with a ldistributor segment 44 attached to a non-conductin rotor block 45 drivingly connected with t e shaft 23. The block 45 carries4 a spring conductor 46 having one end attached tothe segment 44 and the other end arran ed to engage a conducting button 47 carrie by a sleeve'48 supported within the' center cable-receivin socket 49 which receives the wire connecte with the high tension terminal of the ignition coil.

A lever 50 pivoted upon a screw 51 attached to the bracket 28 carries a cam 52 of nonconducting material which is adapted to engage the end of the lever 26. The lever 50 1s provided with a notched ear 53 which receives a rod 54 and which is located between collars 55 and 56 attached to the rod 54. The rod 54 slides through a plug 57 threaded into one end of a bushing 58 having a threaded projection 59 which screws into a large hole tapped into the side of the housing 20. The rod 54 has a head 60 which is attached to a wire 61 movable through jointed tubular members 62 providing armor connecting the bushing 58 with a lock housing 63 shown in Fig. 2. The bushing 58 receives a spring 64 bearin against a washer 65 adapted to engage te head A60 of the rod 54. Thus the spring urges the rod into the position shown in Fig. 1.

The rod 54 is moved towardthe right of the drawings by a key operated device which comprises a key shaft which is turned by the proper key in a key barrel 71 supported by a disc 72 which is permanently attached to the housing 63 as shown. The key shaft operates a screw threaded member 73 cooperating with a nut 74 attached to the wire 61. The nut 74 is prevented'from turning by providing it with a ange 75 which is notched to receive a bar 76 extending from the disc 72. By turning the key shaft the nut 74 is moved longitu inally in order to impart movement to the rod 54 through the wire 61.

When the ignition is unlocked the rod 54 will b e in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and the cam 52 will not interfere with the enagement of the timer contacts 34 and 35.

y turning the key shaft 70 with the proper key the nut l7 4 will be moved toward the right of the drawings in order to cause the lever 50 to move counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 and to cause the cam 52 to engage the lever 26 and prevent it from moving toward the cam 24 'so that the contact 34 will be held out of engagement with the contact 35. Under these conditions, the ignition timer will be rendered inoperative so that the en ine cannot be operated. In this way the t or unauthorized use of a vehicle may be rendered more difficult if not prevented entirely.

Removal of the theft preventing device from the timer and. access to the interior of the.

timer is prevented by the key controlled device when the rod 54 has been moved into such position that the breaker lever 26 will be prevented from functioning. The cover plate 41 carries downwardly extending lugs 80 and 8l provided with notches 82 and 83 respectively for receiving, respectively, the head of a stud 84 and a art 57a of the threaded portion 59 of the bus ing 58, said threaded portion being povided with flats 85 which may be located Itween the flat edges 86 defining the groove 83 as shown in Figs. 4a and 10. After the stud 84 and the bushing 58 are attached to the housing 20 the plate 41 is placed upon the timer housing as shown and is turned While upon the supporting ledge 40 until the notch 82 receives the stud 84 and the notch 83 receives the flats 85 of the threaded extension 59 of the bushing 58. As long as the plate 41 is in this position, the lbushing 58 cannot be removed from the housing.

In order to prevent removal of the plate 41, the distributor head 42 has an insert molded therein providing a ring 90 having downwardly projecting lugs 91 and 92 which are adapted to be received by arcuate slots 93 and 94 respectively in the cover plate 41. After these lugs have been moved through the slots and the head 42 rests upon the plate 41 as shown in Fig. 3 the head 42 is turned so that ortions of the cover plate 41 will be received y notches 95 and 96. provided respectively by the ears 91 and 92. Then the distributor head 42 cannot be removed from the plate 41 without iirst turning the head; and, when the distributor head has been turned relative to the plate 41 so that it is locked to the plate, a hole 97 in the lug 91 will be located in horizontal alignment with a tapped hole 87 in the lug 8O of the plate 41, and at the same time an aperture 98 of the lug 92 will be located in alignment with the collar 56 of the rod 54 as shown particularly in Fig. 4a. During the turning .of the head 42 into this position after it has vthe housing 20 and through the tapped hole 87 of the lug 80 of the plate 41 and then through the hole 97 of the lug 91 of the distributor head 42. This screw will mechanically prevent turning of the distributor head 42 into position for removal; but, when the rod 54 has been moved by the turning of the key shaft 70 into such 'osition as to render the timer inoperative, t e collar 56 of the rod 54 will be received by the aperture 98 in the lug 92 of the head 42. Thus, the head 42 cannot be removed from the timer although the screw 100 is removed.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the locking of the breaker lever 26 in non-operative position will lock the distributor head 42 and the timer housing cover plate 41 to the timer housing in order to prevent access thereto, and will lock the bushing '58 to the timer housing so that the key con-- causes the collars 55 and 56 to move with the rod 54, so thatthe collar 55 engages the ear 53, separating the contacts, and the collar 56 to pass into the aperture 98 of the lug 92. While in this position it is impossible to separate the parts without destroying and ren dering useless one or more of the assembled parts', for the passage of the collar 56 within the aperture 98 prevents turning of the dis- 'tributor head 42 since the collar 56 will not pass through the notch 99. The distributor head being non-removable, prevents the removal of the cover plate 41, since the ears 91 and 92 of the distributor head with'- their notches 95 and 96 engaging` the plate 41, preventl it from turning. The removal of the bushing 58 depends upon the absence of the the cover plate and the armored cable connec tion are rendered inaccessible to unauthorized cover'plate 41, for, with the ear 81 thereof being in place, so that the flats 85 of the threaded portion 57a are engaged by the straight edges 86 of the ear, it is impossible to unscrew the bushing 58 from the timer case. Hence,` if the breaker lever 26 is locked in nonoperative position, then the distributor head,

- persons, and freedom from removal -of the receiving, respectively, a screw 115 and a stud esv 116.- The lug 112 has around aperture 117 connected with a notch 118. The notch 118 receives the rod 54 as the plate 110 is turned after being placed upon the timer housing 20. as shown, in order to bring the aperture 117 into alignment with the collar 56 ofthe rod-54 and the hole 113 in alignment with a plane hole 11.9 in the housing 20 for receiving the screw 115. During this movement of the plate 110 the notch 114 receives the stud 116, and, after the plate is so located, the screw 115 is passed through the hole 119 and is" screwed into the tapped hole 113 in the .ear 111. When the rod 54 is in the position for disabling the ignition timing of the4 breaker lever,the hole 117 of the ear 112 will receive the collar 56 of therod 54. In this way, the turning of the plate 110 into the position for removal from the housing 20 is prevented.

' distributor head in In'this form of invention, the breaker lever 26 1s provided with an extension 120 which may be engaged by a non-conducting plate 121 attached to a lever 122 pivotedupon a screw 123 attached to the breaker lever 4bracket 28.

d The lever 122 has a forked end 124 which receives the rod 54 and which is located between the collars 55 and 56. The mechanism for causing the rod 54 to move toward the iight of Fig. 12 bythe turnin of the key is the same as that employed in t e form-of invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When the rod`54 1s so moved, the collar 55 will engage the lever 122 to cause the plate 121 to engage the breaker lever 126 and to cause the lever to move clockwise as viewed in Fig. 11 so that its rubbing block 25 will not be engaged by the cam 24 and its contact 34 will not engage the stationary contact 35.

This form of invention does not provide means f-orpreventing unscrewing the bushing `5 8 from the housing 20 when the ignition timer is locked.l However, the bushing cannot be 'removed from the timer housing for the reason that the rod '54/cannot be pulled through the timer housing as long as its collar 55 is held within the housing due to engagement with the lever 122. Lever 122 cannot be removed unless the cover 110 is removed. Therefore, it is apparent that the modified form 0f ignition timer lock possesses all of the important features of the first form described with the exception of locking the y \place. While the form of jembodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, itis to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims` which follow.

What is claimed is asl follows:

1. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising in combination, in an ignitiontimer, a cup-shaped housing enclosing timer contacts, a cover for the housing, means for securing the cover to the housing and requiring rotation of the cover upon the housing before the cover can be removed, and a lock controlled device for rendering the timer inoperative and for preventing rotation of the cover to effect its removal.

2. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising in combination, in an ignition timer, a cup-shaped housing enclosing timer contacts, a cover for the housing, means for securing the cover to the housing and re .quiring rotation of the cover upon the housing before the cover can be removed, and a lock controlled device for preventing engagement of the timercontacts and for preventing rotationof the cover to effect its removal.

3. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprisingin combination, in an ignition timer, a cup-shaped housing enclosing timer contacts, a cover for the housing, means for securing the cover to the housing and requiring rotation of the cover upon the housing before the cover can be removed,l and a lock controlled device comprising an armor case threadedly connected at one end with the timer housing and extending into the housing and enclosing a key controlled device having a part movable Within the timer housing, means cooperating With the armor case end and the cover to prevent unscrevving the armor case unle'ss the cover is turned int-o position permitting its removal from the housing, and devices cooperating'with the key controlled device for rendering the timer inoperative and or preventing the turning of the cover into position permitting its removal from the timer housing.

4. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising in combination, in an ignition timer, a cup-shaped housing enclosing timer contacts, a cover for the housing, and a lock controlled device comprising an armor case threadedly connected at one end with the timer housing and extending into the housing and enclosing a key controlled device having a part movable Within the timer housing, means cooperating with the armor case end and the cover when the cover rotated upon the housing to prevent unscrewing the armor case, and devices cooperating with the key controlled device for rendering the timer inoperative and for preventing turning of the cover into position permittingr the unscrcwing 'of the armor case.

5. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising in combination, in an ignition timer, a cup-shaped housing enclosing timer contacts, a cover ior the housing, a lock controlled device including an armor case attached tothe housing. and means responsive to the turning of the cover upon the housing to lock the arn'ior case to the housing, said lock controlled device having key controlled provisions for rendering t-he ignition timer inoperative and for locking the. cover against rotation relative to the timer housing.

6. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising in combination, in an ignition timer, a cup-shaped housing enclosing timer contacts, a cover 'for the housing, a key controlled device having a member movable in thehousing, means cooperating with said member to render the ignition timer inoperative, meanscarried by the cover and inter-lookin with said member to prevent renu al oi' the cover t rom the .timer housing when the cover is turned upon the housing, and means cooperating Vith said keyv controlled member for preventing rotation oi the cover into such position as will permit removal of' the cover or removal of the key controlled device from the timer he Ising.

lVlieit preventing apparatus for automoiiies comprising in combination, in an igcontrolled member from the housing.

8. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising in combination, in an ignition timer, a cup-shaped housing enclosing timer contacts, a cover for the housing, means for securing the cover to the housing and requiring rotation of the coverv upon the housing before the cover` can be removed, said means including a member threaded 4through the timer housing and having a part cooperating with av notched lug suspended from the cover, a distributor head supported above the cover by the housing and having a lug extending through the cover and provided with a notch adjacent the end of said threaded member, and a key controlled device ineluding a member movable'through an armor attached to said threaded-men'iber,

said key controlled member having a part movable within the timer housing, and devices cooperating with said key controlled part for engaging the notch ofthe distributor Ahead lug to prevent removal of the distributer head and to prevent rotation of the cover into position permitting removal of the threaded member, and a device cooperating with said key controlled member for rendering the timer inoperative.

9. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising in combination, in an ignition timer, a cup-shaped housing enclosing timer contacts, a cover for the housing, a distributor head enclosing the cover, a key controlled device having a member movable Within the housing, and devices cooperating with said .member for locking the distributor head and cover to the housing, and for rendering the ignition timer inoperative.

10. Theft preventing apparatus for autemobilcs comprising in combination, in an ignition timer, a cup-shaped housing enclosmgtlmer contacts, a cover for the housing, a distributor head enclosing the cover, a-kev controlled device having a. member movalii'c Within the housing, and devices cooperating with said member for locking the distributor head and cover to the housing for preventing removal of said key controlled device from the housing and for rendering the. ignition timer inoperative. i

1l. Theft preventing appar-iu` i'or automobiles comprising in combination, in au iglli;

ing and' for rendering the ignition timer inoperative. v

12. Theft preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising in combination, in an lig- A nition timer, a cup-shaped housing enclosing timer contacts, a distributor head upon the timer housing, a key controlled device having a member movable Within the housing, and devices cooperating with said member for locking the distributor head to the housing for preventing removal of said key controlled device from the housing and for rendering the ignition timer inoperative.

In testimony whereof I hereto atx my si gnature.

LARRY E. NORVIEL. 

